fruit fly

noun

: any of various small dipteran flies (such as a drosophila) whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

Examples of fruit fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Tiny fruit flies come in from outside, attracted to ripening produce on your kitchen counter, or they may be brought in on infested fruit. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026 Ruptures, tears, and cracks are known to shape zebra fish nostrils, hydra mouths, fruit fly legs, and whole flatworms. Clare Watson, Quanta Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026 Like how fruit flies and mice anchor whole fields, model proteins can help researchers build on each other’s findings and better understand the fundamentals of biology. Marc Zimmer, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026 Eliminating a fruit fly infestation can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 21 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fruit fly

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fruit fly was circa 1753

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Cite this Entry

“Fruit fly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fruit%20fly. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

fruit fly

noun
: any of various small two-winged flies whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

Medical Definition

fruit fly

noun
: any of various small dipteran flies (as a drosophila) whose larvae feed on fruit or decaying vegetable matter

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